Apparatus for scoring cover glass



N. H. KLAGES Aug. 29, 1944.

APPARATUS FOR SCORING COVER GLASS Filed March'l4, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Norma/7H /(/a ges Aug. 29, 1944. N. H. KLAGES APPARATUS FOR SCORING COVER GLASS Filed March 14, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR Aug. 29, 1944. N. H. KLAGES APPARATUS FOR SCORING COVER GLASS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 14, 1942 Mm mm QN N .2... R. m Qhu N 5 mw qw Patented Aug. 29 1944 APPARATUS FOR sooamo oovnn GLASS Norman H. Klages, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignorto American Window Glass Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 14, 1942, Serial No. 434,730

Claims.

This invention relates to the production of cover glass, i. e., thin sheet glass, .005" to .007" thick, in small pieces cut accurately to size and usually square or rectangular in shape.

Cover glassis produced in roughly circular sheets 8" or 10" in diameter and must be cut to size before it is ready for shipment to the user. Heretofore, hand scoring and breaking of the sheet has beenthe only method of cutting cover glass to size. The flexibility and fragility of the material resulting from its small thickness introduce considerable difficulty into the cutting operation and it is for this reason that, although machines have been designed for cutting window glass and the like to size, it has proved impossible to utilize such machines for cutting cover glass.

The cutting of cover glass by hand is open to serious objections. In the first place, the labor cost of the operation is high because only a relatively limited output is obtained per man-hour. In the second place, the cutting by hand introduces slight variations in the size of the pieces as a result of the fact that the cutting tool as it traverses the scoring guide is not always held at a constant angle to the sheet being scored. In addition, the pressure applied to'the scoring tool by the cutter varies considerably in diiferent portions of the stroke of the tool. If the pressure is below a certain value, there is less likelihood that a clean break will result. If the pressure on the tool is excessive, the sheet may shatter causing a loss of material.

There are several reasons why it has proved impossible to score cover glass by machines which have been developed for scoring thicker grades of sheet glass. I One of these is the fact that cover glass sheets as delivered for scoring are highly irregular in outline. In addition, the fragility of the material presents a serious problem in the matter of mere handling and holding in position during scoring, without excessive breakage.- In most cutting machines, scoring tools are advanced into engagement with the edge of a sheet disposed at right angles to the path of the tools and the latter ride up over the edge and commence scoring immediately. This mode of operation cannot be adopted in scoring cover glass because of the aforementioned irregularity in the shape thereof. By reason of this irregularity, a cutting tool advancing toward a sheet of cover glass might engage an edge making a very acute angle with the path of the tool whereby excessive lateral pressure would be exerted on the tool and the sheet possibly shattered, instead of the tool's riding up over the edge and immediately commencing a score.

I have invented a novel apparatus for scoring over glass so that it can easily be broken by hand into accurately sized pieces of the desired dimensions and shape. By the invention, I am able to obtain a much greater output than is possible by hand scoring and I also obtain a better yield of salable material. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, I provide a base having atop or working surface on which is mounted a turn table adapted to support and hold the glass sheet during scoring. A traveling bridge adapted to move back and forth over the turntable is provided with a slide having a tool holder thereon whereby a scoring tool mounted in the holder may be caused to engage the sheet and make a plurality'of parallel scores in the surface thereof successively and then make a similar group of scores intersecting therewith at right angles. The traveling bridge is accurately positioned before each scoring operation by a gauge bar along one side of the base, having notches therein adapted to be engaged by a position lever pivoted on the bridge.

My invention has utility chiefly in connection with the method and apparatus disclosed herein which are also disclosed and claimed in the co-pending application of Theodor G. Weihs, Serial No. 436,425, filed March 27, 1942, for

. Method and apparatus for scoring cover glass.

A complete understandin of the invention, its details, novel features and advantages may be had by a, consideration of the following description and explanation referring to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred form of the apparatus of my invention. In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a scoring apparatus. embodying the principles of my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation;

Figure 3 is a view partly in end elevation and partly in section along the plane of line IIIIII having a top-or working surface II and supporting legsvl2. The base Il may conveniently be a respondingly tapered to provide a fairly close fit.

A pipe 20 is threaded into the hub I3 and provides a connection to a suitable source of suction as will be explained more fully hereafter.

Roller brackets 2I are secured below the top II adjacent the well I4 and in circumferentiallr spaced relation therearound. The side wall of the well I4 is recessed as at Ma to admit the lower, inwardly projecting portions of the brackets. Bearing rollers 22 are journaled on screw shafts 23 threaded into horizontal tapped holes in the brackets 2| and support the table I5 for rotation. The bottom of the table is machined as at 24 to provide a raceway engaging the milers 22. Centering rollers 25 are Joumaled on screw posts 28 inserted through holes in the top II and threaded into vertical tapped holes in the brackets 2|. The'rollers 25 engage the periphery of the table I5 and keep it properly centered in the well I4 as it turns on the bearing or supporting rollers'22. The portions of the shafts 23 and posts 26 on which the rollers 22 and 25 are disposed-may be eccentric with respect to the axes of the shafts and posts whereby the rollers 22 may be adjusted vertically and the rollers 25 horizontally on rotation of the shafts and posts, respectively.

The perforations in the cover plate I1 are indicated at 21 and are preferably distributed over the surface thereof uniformly. A carrier plate 28 is removably disposed on the cover plate I1 and has perforations 29 formed therein adapted to register with the perforation 21 when the plate is disposed on the table concentrically thereof. To facilitate proper placement of the plate on the table, the latter has pins 30 spaced circumferentially thereof adapted to enter suitable holes in the plate. By virtue of the construction described, a sheet of cover glass 3i may be disposed on a carrier plate 23 before the latter is disposed on the table I5. On placement of the carrier plate and induction of air through the perforations 21 and 29 remaining uncovered by the sheet 3|, the latter is held against the carrier plate by air pressure with sufficient force to hold it frictionally against sliding under horizontal forces of the order of those produced by traversing a scoring tool across the sheet.

For inducing a flow of air through the perforations 21 and 29 into the hollow interior of the table I5 and outwardly thereof through the stud I8 and pipe connection 20, I employ an air-exhaust or suction pump capable of handling a relatively large volume of air and maintaining only a moderate degree of vacuum. For example, I have successfully employed a household suction cleaner having a capacity of between and 45 cubic feet per minute and capable of maintaining a vacuum of about 45 inches of water. It will be apparent that, when using such a device, air is drawn through the perforations remaining uncovered by the glass sheet with some leakage of air between the sheet and 76 the carrier plate into the perforations covered by the former. -As shown in Figure l, the sheet covers a greater or lesser area of the plate 22,

. depending on. its size and outline. Since I employ a relatively low degree of vacuum or suction anda suction device having a relatively large capacity,.the air drawn through the uncovered perforations may readily be exhausted from th hollow interior of the table I5.. Th resulting vacuum below the glass sheetleaves the pressure of the air'thereabove unbalanced whereby the sheet is pressed against the carrier plate with suillcient force to grip it frictionally and resist sliding under the horizontal force exerted thereon by a scoring tool.

Since cover glass is usually marketed in the form of square or rectangular pieces, I provide means for securely locking the table I5 in two scoring positions at right angles to each other. Sockets 32 are bored radially into the periphery of the table I5 and are spaced apart circumferentially thereof. Index plugs 33 are inserted in the sockets 22 and are provided with tapering recesses in their outer ends. An index plunger 34 having a pointed inner end adapted to enter the recesses in the outer ends of the plugs 33, is slidable axially in a guide sleeve or tube 35 which may conveniently be formed integral with the top II of the base III. The index plunger is normally urged inwardly by a compression spring 36 disposed about a reduced stem 31 extending rearwardly from the plunger 24. The spring is held in position by a plug 35 threaded in the outer end of the tube 35. A thumb lever 39 is pivoted to the end of the stem 31 projecting through the Plug 38 and also to a bracket 40 secured to one of th webs I3 of the base III.

When the plunger 34 is in the position shown in Figure '5, it looks the table I5 against rotation by virtue of the engagement of the plunger with the plug 33. When it is desired to rotate the table I5, it is only necessary to press outwardly on the upper end of the lever 39 and then turn the table as desired by hand. If the table is to be turned 90, the release of the lever 39 when an adjacent plug 33 is in alinement therewith serves to lock the table in a position at exactly 90 to its former position.

Having explained the turn table or rotatable support for the glass sheet to be scored and the manner of securing the sheet thereto, it now remains to explain the provisions for scoring the sheet.

Rails 4I and 42 extend along opposite sides of the working surface I I. A traveling bridge indicated generally at 43 is adapted to move along these rails. The bridge comprises brackets 44 and 45 and upper and lower tie rods 46 and 41 extending therebetween. Supporting rollers 49 are Journaled on shafts 50 extending inwardly from the brackets 44 and 45 and rest on the upper edges of the rails M and 42. Hold-down rollers 5| are similarly mounted and engage the lower edges of the rails. .By this construction, the traveling bridge 43 is adapted to move back and forth across the table I5. In order to insure equal and simultaneous movements of both endspof the bridge even though the force necessary to move it is applied manually to only one end thereof, I provide chains 52 having their ends pinned to the lower ends of the brackets 44 and 45 and trained around sprockets 53 adjacent the ends of the path of the bridge. The sprockets 53 are keyed to shafts 54 extending across the base I0 below the top H thereof and journaled in bearings 54a secured t the inner surface of the webs 3. It will be .apparent that movement of either end of the bridge 43 immediately turns the sprockets and thereby produces an equal and simultaneous movement of the other end of the bridge. A stop screw 55 is threaded through a lug 56 depending from rail 4| and is adapted to engage roller 5| on bracket 44 and thereby serves to limit movement of the bridge 43 toward the lever 39.

A slide 5! is movable along the tie rods 46. The slide has a knob 58 adapted to be engaged by the palm of th operator's hand, for causing I lever 59. A scoring tool 63 is positioned in themount 62 in such relation thereto as to engage the sheet 3| as the slide moves along the tie rods 46. The lever-59 is normallyurged clockwise as viewed in Figure 3 by a tension spring 54 secured thereto and also to an adjusting screw 65 extendingthrough one side of the slide and having a knurled adjusting nut thereon. A stop screw 66 threaded through a lug 61 limits clockwise movement of the lever 59. v

In order to hold the bridge 43 in properly spaced positions along the length of the working surface II, I provide a gauge bar 68 secured to and extending along the rail 4|. The bar 68 has trans verse notches 69 formed therein at suitable intervals therealong. A gauge lever 79 is pivoted to a clevis secured to bracket 44 and has a projecting portion or-finger 12 adapted to enter the slot 69. A spring 13 secured to the lever 10 and the bracket 44 normally urges the lever clockwise as viewed in Figure 3. A screw 14 is threaded into a horizontal hole in the slide 51 adjacent the knob 58. The screw has a locknut thereon for locking it in adjusted position. When the slide is in the position shown in solid lines in Figure 3, the lever I0 is shifted so that the projecting portion or finger 12 thereof is withdrawn from engagement with the gauge bar 68. When the slide has been advanced slightly, the spring 13 causes the finger 12 to engage the bar 68 and enter the first slot 69 therein with which it is thereafter V alined.

The operation of the apparatus, while probably apparent from the description thereof, will now be briefly reviewed. A glass sheet such as that indicated at 3| having been placed on the plate 28 after removal of the latter from the table IS, the plate is replaced on the table so that the holes in the plate aline with those in the cover plate I! of 'the table I5. Suction is then applied to the interior of the table by means of a suitable con trol valve or by starting the suction pump. The glass sheet is thereby frictionally held on the table in position for scoring.

The operator then places his hand on the knob 58 of the slide 5'! and with the forefinger of same hand tilts the lever 59 to raise the tool 63. With the slide in the position shown in solid'lines in Figure 3, the bridge 43 is positioned adjacent one side of the sheet 3|. The slide is then moved forward slightly and the bridge traversed back and forth through a small distance until the finger 12 of the lever 10 enters one of the slots 59 in the gaug bar 68. The slide 5'! is then positioned, as shown in chain lines in Figure 3,

so that the tool 63 is spaced slightly inwardly of the edge of the sheet remote from the operator. The lever 59 is then released gently whereupon the tool 63 engages the sheet. The slide 51 is then moved toward the position shown in solid lines in Figure 3 with the result that the tool 53 produces a straight score across the surface of the sheet with a high degree of precision.

It will be apparent that completion of the traversing movement of the slide 51 automatically causes the lever Ill to disengage the bar 53 as above explained whereupon the bridge is ready for movement to the position for making the next score. The procedure described is then repeated until the entire surface of the glass sheethas been scored along spaced parallel lines. The sheet is then ready for the formation of a second similar set of scores atrightangles. To accomplish this, the lever 39, is tilted to free the table l5 for rotation. After the table has been turned through 90, it is again locked in position by releasing the lever 39. The scoring operation is then repeated. producing .a second set of parallel angular position of'the lever such as would resifit from high and low spots in the surface of the menced. At the same time, the previously scored sheet is passed along to an operator whose sole function is to break the sheet along the scores formed therein and stack the perfect pieces for packing and shipping. The removal of the plate 28 from the table l5 equalizes the air pressure on both sidesof the sheet 3| and thus permits the latter to be easily removed from the plate and severed into small pieces. By the procedure described, the scoring device operates practically full-time without interruptions or loss of time for severance of the scored pieces or cleaning up the scrap. This makes possible a greater output per man-hour and reduces the labor cost because the severing or breaking operation requires little or no skill. As a matter of fact, unskilled labor may be trained in the practice of th scoring method and in the use of the apparatus disclosed, in a very short time.

A modification of a detail is illustrated in Figure 6. According to the modification, the joint between the stud N3 of the table l5 and the hub IQ of the well I4 is sealed by a gland 15 -disposed in a counterbore in the hub l9 and compressed against the stud l8 by a compression ring 16 secured to the top face of the hub by screws 11. This modification will ordinarily not be necessary although it may be provided if desired to limit the leakage of air between the stud l8 and hub l9.

- It will be apparent from the foregoing description and explanation that the invention is characterized by numerous advantages over the prior practice in scoring and severing cover glass. In the first place, the invention makes it possible for two operators, one scoring and one breaking, to produce twice as much cover glass as two operators cutting by hand, each breaking the sheets after scoring thereof. The scoring apparatus disclosed is free from human errors and its precision is limited only by the tolerances permitted in the finishing of machine parts which can be made almost negligible. The percentage of salable material produced by the aid of the invention is greater than that produced by hand cutting cause the lever to disengage the bar.

methods because the uniformity of the pressure on the scoring tool practicallyeliminates accidental shattering of a sheet during scoring. The diiiiculty in the application of machine scoring to cover glass is overcome by making the scores individually and by lowering the scoring tool into contact with the glass sheet at points spaced inwardly from the edge thereof. The ability to operate the machine rapidly may be acquired with a little practice but requires no special skill.

The invention is particularly useful in the scoring of cover glass along straight lines for severance into square or rectangular pieces. It may also be employed, however, for cutting discs of cover glass by appropriately placing the scoring tool and rotating the table with the glass sheet thereon.

Although I have illustrated but a preferred embodiment of the method and apparatus of my invention with a modiflcation of a detail o'fconstruction, it will be understood that changes in the construction and operation disclosed may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention Or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for scoring glass sheets, a table for supporting a. sheet, a carriage movable across said table, a slide movable along said carn'age, a scoring tool mounted on said slide adapted to engage a sheet on said table, and means mounted on the carriage and adapted to be released by said slide, for locking said carriage in a 3. In an apparatus for scoring glass sheets, a table for supporting a sheet, a carriage movable across said table, a. slide movable along said carriage, a scoring tool mounted on said slide adapted to engage a sheet on said table, a gauge bar extending along the path of movement of said carriage having recesses at intervals therealong, a lever pivoted on said carriage having a portion adapted to enter said recesses selectively to fix the carriage relative to the table, and means on 4. In an apparatus for scoring glass sheets, a:

table for supporting a sheet, a carriage movable across said table, a slide movable along said carriage, a scoring tool mounted on said slide adapted to engage a sheet on said table, a gauge bar extending along the path of movement of said carriage having recesses at intervals therealon'g, a lever pivoted on said carriage at a point below said bar, said lever having a portion intermediate its ends adapted to enter said recesses selectively to fix the carriage relativeto the table, and a portion projecting upwardly into the path of said slide on the carriage whereby the slide disengages the lever from said bar when the slide is near one end of the carriage.

5. The apparatus defined by claim 4 characterized by said lever being mounted vertically at one end of the carriage.

NORMAN H. KLAGES.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2, 7,206. August 29, 19M.

nommn H. KLAGES.

It is hereby certified that error appears, in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, second column, line 5, for ever read cover--; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of December, A. D. l9l l Leslie Frazer (Sea1) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

